Davis and Butterfield will have the same roles with the Cubs under Manager Joe Maddon. They replace John Mallee, who served as major league hitting coach for the last three seasons, and Gary Jones, who served as major league third base coach for the last four seasons, respectively.

Davis was Red Sox hitting coach these past three seasons after serving in that capacity for three years with the Athletics. Over his three seasons in Boston the Red Sox led the majors in runs (2,411) and pitches per plate appearances (3.95), tied for first in on-base percentage (.334), ranked second in batting average (.268), third in OPS (.762) and plate appearances per strikeout (5.35). Despite the success in the aggregate, however, Sox offensive power was notably limited in 2017, falling well short of expectations.

Highly respected Butterfield has served as third base coach, infield coach and baserunning coach for the Red Sox for the last five seasons starting in 2013.

Though newly named Red Sox manager Álex Cora was under no obligation to retain any of the coaches, today’s moves make certain that Cora will bring a team very much of his own choosing to the ballpark in 2018.

By all accounts, Red Sox baseball president Dave Dombrowski is moving quickly to name a new manager after he firingJohn Farrell on October 11. Reporting across baseball identifies Álex Coraas the likely next manager of the club. Cora would be the first former Red Sox player to become manager of the team since Butch Hobson (1992-94).

Earlier this week came word that Hall of Fame manager Tony La Russa was leaving his role as chief baseball analyst for the Diamondbacks. Some speculated whether that may have a bearing on Boston’s search for Farrell’s replacement but of Scott Lauber of ESPN says La Russa has no interest in that. “Passed the managerial baton,” La Russa told Lauber. ”I’m done.” That said, Nick Cafardo writes that La Russa is a big fan of Dombrowski’s and an obvious fit for a Red Sox front-office role.

While the news could come sooner, WEEI’s Rob Bradford says tomorrow looks like the perfect day to introduce the new manager, as these are the only off days before the start of the World Series. Bradford explains that clubs need permission from Major League Baseball to make announcements during the postseason. Clubs are generally careful not to draw attention from the Fall Classic, which could go as late as November 1.

Álex Cora still has an important job to do in the ALCS as bench coach for the Houston Astros. The former Sox infielder has been connected to more than a couple managerial openings this off-season. Cora, who turns 42 this month played 14 major league seasons (1998-2011), including four with Boston (2005-08). Since then he’s been General Manager and on-field manager for the Criollos de Caguas, his hometown team in the Puerto Rican Winter League, and was also General Manager for Puerto Rico for the 2017 World Baseball Classic. He has previously interviewed for openings with the Rangers, Padres and Diamondbacks.

Update, October 23: Red Sox announce Cora as club’s new manager.

Update, October 22: Red Sox are close to announcing Alex Cora as the 47th manager in club history. Announcement could come as early as Sunday writes Ian Brown, with a full press conference at Fenway after the World Series.

Update, October 21: Red Sox offer to Cora is a three-year deal reports Ken Rosenthal,who also says the Nationals vacancy isn’t get in the way of Boston’s deal.

Update, October 21: The Nationals will ask the Astros for permission to interview Cora after the ALCS wraps up in a Saturday reports Nick Cafardo.

Update, October 18: The Athletic confirms that Cora with the Tigers last week. Cora met with Red Sox and Mets this week.

Update, October 17: Of Cora, veteran player Carlos Beltrán says: “He’s always in the clubhouse getting to know the players, getting to know which buttons he could push on each player to make them go out there and play the game hard, which is great.” Beltran goes on to say, “He’s a guy that always is looking for information that he could use against the opposite team.”

Update, October 15: Boston Heraldreports that Sox baseball president Dave Dombrowski interviewed Cora on Sunday (October 15), an off-day during the American League Championship Series. Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports subsequently tweeted that Cora is the front-runner to replace John Farrell.

Ron Gardenhire managed the Twins (2002-14), guiding them to the postseason in six of his first nine seasons, a feat no other manager had achieved at the time. He was American League Manager of the Year in 2010, and runner-up to that honor in five other seasons. Garenhire’s managing record with Minnesota was 1068-1039 (.507), making him the winningest manager in club history and one of 10 managers in baseball history to win 1000+ games with a single team. Gardy, who turns 60 this month, was an infielder with the Mets 1981-85. He just completed his first season as bench coach for the Diamondbacks under manager Torey Lovullo. Charley Walters of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reported that Gardenhire was one of the top three candidates for the Boston job. According to FOXSports reporter Ken Rosenthal, the Red Sox have formally asked permission of the Diamondbacks to interview Gardenhire.

Update, October 20: For what it’s worth, MLB.com reporter Jason Beck reports that when he was offered the Tigers’ job, Gardenhire reached out to the Red Sox only to be told that Boston wasn’t ready to make any moves.

Update, October 20: MLB.com reporter Jon Morosi says Gardenhire’s deal is for three years.

Update, October 19: Gardenhire is off the market according to Ken Rosenthal, who says Gardy will manage Detroit next season, pending contract negotiations.

Update, October 18: Red Sox confirm they interviewed Gardenhire today. Sean McAdam tweets that Sox are “sorting through the process” to determine whether other candidates will be interviewed.

Brad Ausmus, 48, was recently dismissed from the Tigers (a job he was given by Dave Dombrowski) after a four-year, mediocre stint during which he went 314-332 (.486). Originally drafted by the Yankees in 1987, Ausmus had an 18-year big league career (1993-2010) as a catcher with the Padres, Tigers, Astros, and Dodgers. He was an All-Star in 1999 and a three-time Gold Glove winner. The Connecticut native is considered a smart guy. Peter Gammons reported that after Ausmus’ interview for the Sox manager’s job in 2012, one of the club executives who was there called the interview the best he’d ever seen. Some, however, have raised concerns about Ausmus’ ability (or inability) to handle the media. Ausmus has also been linked to the open manager’s job with the Mets, too.

Update, October 15: MLive.com says the effort to paint Ausmus as some sort of Belichickean figure—his genius unappreciated by the rubes at his first stop, only to be welcomed in New England—is wildly premature.

Perhaps not a leading candidate, journalist John Tomase makes the case for former Red Sox Gabe Kapler, 42, to be the next Boston manager. Kapler’s demeanor, particularly in contrast to John Farrell’s more serious disposition, is just what the club needs, Tomase says, to better develop its younger talent. For the last three seasons, Kapler has been the Dodgers’ director of player development. Kapler played 2003-06 in Boston as part of a 12 year MLB career. He then managed the Single-A Sox affiliate, the Greenville Drive, for one season in 2007, going 58–81.

Also of Note

Update, October 20: Despite Dombrowski saying the new manager would pick his own coaching staff, Evan Drellich tweets that the Sox are keen to retain Dana LeVangie. LeVangie is a Massachusetts native who has spent his entire 27-year baseball career with the Red Sox organization, including six seasons as a catcher in the Sox minor league system, reaching Triple-A in 1995. He joined the big league coaching staff in 2013.

Update, October20: The Giants have interviewed Chili Davis, according to The Mercury News. Davis broke in with San Francisco as a highly touted prospect. He played six full seasons there, finishing fourth in National League Rookie of the Year balloting in 1982. It’s unclear for which role Davis was interviewing. Davis met with the Padres on Wednesday.

Update, October 20: Another spot for a new manager opened with the news the Nationals have terminatedDusty Baker after two season. Baker, 68, tells USA Today’s Bob Nightengale that he wants another managing gig and has no plans to retire.

Update, October 20: The Phillies have kept their manager search out of the news, for the most part, writes Jon Heyman, but he says Red Sox bench coach Gary DiSarcina is among the candidates for the role.

Update, October 19: The Twins have interviewed Sox pitching coach Carl Willis for a similar role in Minnesota. Former Rays pitching coach, Jim Hickey, is also being considered for the role. The vacancy comes after Minnesota fired Neil Allen, the three season incumbant, earlier this month.

Dave Dombrowski, president of Sox baseball operations, consummated the deal for Davis on Wednesday, sending minor leaguer Rafael Rincones, 18, to the Athletics in return.

Davis, 36, was .233 (70-for-300) with 17 doubles, two triples, and five home runs in 100 games with the A’s this season. He’s also stolen 26 bases in 32 attempts.

Since the All-Star break, Davis has gone 23-for-76 (.303) with an .848 OPS and 11 stolen bases over 30 games. Davis has stolen at least 20 bases in 10 of his major league seasons, recording 40 or more steals five times with a career-best 50 in 2010.

The Red Sox are Davis’ seventh team in 12 big league seasons. He’s also played for Pittsburgh (2006-07), San Francisco (2007-08), Oakland (2008-10, 2017), Toronto (2011-13), Detroit (2014-15), and Cleveland (2016).

With the Indians Davis led the league in steals, swiping 43 bags and also had a career-highs with 12 home runs, 33 walks, and 106 strikeouts. At age 35, Davis’ stolen bases in 2016 made him the oldest since Rickey Henderson topped the American League with 66 steals at the age of 39 in 1998.

The last deals between the Red Sox and Athletics came in 2015. In May, Boston traded Edward Mujica and cash to Oakland for player to be named or cash. In July, Boston got Ryan Cook from Oakland. Cook appeared in five games with the Sox, but hasn’t played in the major leagues since.

Increasingly, Pomeranz has shown signs that he is the legitimate No. 2 starter for the Red Sox rotation. Any remaining doubts were likely erased—or at least reduced—on Wednesday when Pomeranz went toe-to-toe with Indians ace Corey Kluber and came out on top.

Doug Fister‘s complete game one-hitter against the Indians on Tuesday was unexpected, but it’s time to believe that Pomeranz can, in fact, face off against the league’s toughest opponents.

Pomeranz is now 13-4 with a 3.18 ERA for the season and has won a career-high six consecutive road decisions.

Asked about the prospect of competing against an opposing ace, Pomeranz said he tries not to focus on that. “I don’t really like to look at the other pitcher,” Pomeranz said after the game. “If I do my job, it doesn’t matter who’s on the other side.”

Big Win Against A Tough Team

Kluber has been outstanding this season and he was good again on Wednesday, limiting the Sox to two runs on four hits with 12 strikeouts over 7.2 IP. But Kluber would take the loss as Pomeranz, though somewhat less efficient, kept pace by allowing just 2 hits and no runs with nine strikeouts. Pomeranz did walk four, however, which helped to drive his pitch count to 103 by the time he left the game after 5.1 IP.

Mitch Moreland‘s home run gave the Sox the lead in the fifth inning, but it was Mookie Betts‘ two-out base hit in the eighth, scoring Brock Holt, that sent Kluber to the showers with Boston leading 2-0.

In the bottom of the eighth, Edwin Encarnación belted a solo shot, his club-best 29th of the season, off Sox reliever Addison Reed, sending us back to a one-run game.

With Kimbrel prepping to protect the slim lead, Boston put together a big top of the ninth with back-to-back singles by Rafael Devers and Xander Bogaerts and a big double for Brock Holt. Aided by a passed ball and a wild pitch, the Sox were now up 4-1 when Eduardo Núñez stepped to the plate and blasted a two-run home run.

Already warm, Kimbrel did enter the game collecting his 100th strikeout of the season. Kimbel is now struck out 101 of the 195 batters he’s faced this season (51.8%).

Boston batters struck out 14 times on Wednesday, with half those coming from Hanley Ramírez (4 SO) and Christian Vázquez (3 SO). For Ramírez it was Career Game No. 1,581 and his first ever with four strikeouts in nine innings. The 14 strikeouts was one shy of the club’s season-high (15) also coming against the Tribe.

Wednesday’s win gives the Red Sox a 4 games-to-2 lead over the Indians this season, assuring them of a season series win. The Sox took the 2016 set 4-games-to-2 in 2016; the Indians beat the Sox 4-2 in 2015.

Farrell Moves Up The List

Red Sox Manager John Farrell recorded his 412th win with the club on Wednesday for sole possession of seventh place on the club’s All-Time Managers Win List. With two more he’ll tie Jimy Williams at No. 6 on that list.

It’s a long way to No. 1 for Farrell. That record is held by Hall of Famer Joe Cronin, who recorded 1,071 wins from 1935-1947.

Red Sox Acquire Rajai Davis

Just prior to the game came word that the Red Sox had acquired veteran player Rajai Davis from the Athletics in return for 18-year-old minor leaguer Rafael Rincones.

Speedy Davis, has stolen at least 18 bases in each of the last 11 seasons and has five seasons with 40 or more steals. His 26 stolen base in 2017 automatically make him the SB champ for the Red Sox.

Davis broke into the big leagues with the Pirates in 2006 then played for the Giants (2007-08), Athletics (2008-10), Blue Jays (2011-13), Tigers (2014-15), Indians (2016) before returning to Oakland this season on a one year deal as a free agent.

As part of the Indians postseason drive last year, Davis was 5-for-22 (.227), all during the World Series, including that big, game-tying home run off the Cubs’ Aroldis Chapman in the eighth inning of Game 7.

Though Davis’ .233 AVG/.294 OBP/.353 SLG slash line for 2017 seems mediocre, his power turned up in the second half, going .303/.361/.487 in 30 games since the All-Star break.

Following tonight’s announcement, Sox baseball president Dave Dombrowski praised Davis’ clubhouse presence and his postseason experience.. “He’s a tremendous individual,” Dombrowski said. “He’s the type of person everyone thinks the world of when they meet him, he’ll fit in with the ball club well.”

Dombrowski stressed that talks to acquire Davis were in the works for a week and did not reflect any greater concerns about Jackie Bradley, who injured his thumb sliding into home on Tuesday. Bradley was back in Boston today for further medical examination which found no tears or fractures, but he’ll need a splint for about a week and was officially placed on the 10-day disabled list.

Davis grew up in Connecticut and graduated from New London High School in CT in 1999 where he played baseball, basketball and football. He attended the University of Connecticut at Avery Point. Davis and his wife, Marissa, have a daughter, Jada Marie, and son, Jordan Michael.

With the last day of the season comes news that Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski will stick with Manager John Farrell for 2016.

In a press release Sunday, the Red Sox said Farrell will be back as manager, provided he obtains a “clean bill of health” following his treatment for Stage 1 Lymphoma.

Perhaps more importantly, Dombrowski worked a deal with interim manager Torey Lovullo to return to his role as Red Sox bench coach next season and waive his right to pursue managerial openings in the 2016 season. That’s not an insignificant concession on Lovullo’s part, whose skillful management of the Boston ball club after Farrell’s departure, likely put him toward the top of the list for manager jobs elsewhere. The Red Sox were 28-20 under Lovulllo.

Dombrowski’s arrangement with Lovullo came with a two year contract extension. Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe reported via Twitter that the extension included, according to Dombrowski, a bump in compensation that will make Lovullo one of the higher paid bench coaches in the game.

With Lovullo locked in, Dombrowski has a backup plan in the regrettable instance that Farrell has a health setback next season.

He’s back, but should he be?

After such bad, back-to-back seasons, Red Sox fans can be forgiven for wondering whether Farrell deserves another shot managing this club. Indeed, except for the World Championship season of 2013, Farrell has never managed a winning season in five total years between the Blue Jays and Red Sox.

On Sunday, the Boston Globe‘s Nick Cafardo reported that former Red Sox player Rich Gedman, currently a hitting coach for the Pawtucket Red Sox, may wind up leaving the organization if he isn’t soon promoted to the major league level. We’ll wait to see whether Beyeler and Sandora’s departure means an opening in the big club for Gedman.